Two medicines, side by side
Olanzapine vs lurasidone
Olanzapine and lurasidone are both labeled for depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Drugs@FDA records approvals of olanzapine since 1996 and of lurasidone since 2010. Pharmacies paid $0.147 per olanzapine 20 mg tablet and $0.142 per lurasidone HCl 20 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026). How each works, in its label's words: Olanzapine, “The mechanism of action of olanzapine, in the listed indications is unclear.”; Lurasidone, “The mechanism of action of lurasidone in the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar depression is unclear.”
Check it at the source: the olanzapine FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 5, 2026); the lurasidone FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 31, 2025).
Highlights of the olanzapine record
Olanzapine (Zyprexa) · label of March 5, 2026
INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. Analyses of seventeen placebo-controlled trials (modal duration of 10 weeks), largely in patients taking atypical antipsychotic drugs, revealed a risk of death in drug-treated patients of between 1.6 to 1.7 times the risk of death in placebo-treated patients.
Used for
From the label: indicationsOlanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic indicated: As oral formulation for the: · Treatment of schizophrenia. ( 1.1 ) · Adults: Efficacy was established in three clinical trials in patients with schizophrenia: two 6-week trials and one maintenance trial. ( 14.1 ) · Adolescents (ages 13-17): Efficacy was established in one 6-week trial in patients with schizophrenia ( 14.1 ). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 30, 1996
- Generic labelers
- 43 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.147 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 14
Highlights of the lurasidone record
Lurasidone (Latuda) · label of January 31, 2025
INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS; and SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS WARNING: INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS; and SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. LATUDA is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis ( 5.1 ).
Used for
From the label: indicationsLATUDA is indicated for: Treatment of adult and adolescent patients (13 to 17 years) with schizophrenia [see Clinical Studies ( 14.1 )]. Monotherapy treatment of adult and pediatric patients (10 to 17 years) with major depressive episode associated with bipolar I disorder (bipolar depression) [see Clinical Studies ( 14.2 )]. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 28, 2010
- Generic labelers
- 28 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.142 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Olanzapine label of March 5, 2026, Lurasidone label of January 31, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do olanzapine and lurasidone differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Olanzapine, “The mechanism of action of olanzapine, in the listed indications is unclear.”; Lurasidone, “The mechanism of action of lurasidone in the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar depression is unclear.”
Both are in FDA's class atypical antipsychotics.
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: olanzapine since 2011; lurasidone since 2019 (Drugs@FDA).
| Olanzapine | Lurasidone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, Depression | Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, Depression |
| Pharmacologic class | Atypical Antipsychotic | Atypical Antipsychotic |
| How it works (label) | The mechanism of action of olanzapine, in the listed indications is unclear. However, the efficacy of olanzapine in schizophrenia could be mediated through a combination of dopamine and serotonin type 2 (5HT 2 ) antagonism. | The mechanism of action of lurasidone in the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar depression is unclear. |
| Half-life (label) | Its half-life ranges from 21 to 54 hours (5th to 95th percentile; mean of 30 hr), and apparent plasma clearance ranges from 12 to 47 L/hr (5th to 95th percentile; mean of 25 L/hr). | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 30, 1996 | October 28, 2010 |
| First generic approved | October 24, 2011 | January 3, 2019 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 43 labelers | 28 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.147 per tablet (Olanzapine 20 mg tablet) | $0.142 per tablet (Lurasidone HCl 20 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -5% | -28% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 14 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 107,881 | 20,803 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
Do their labels mention each other?
Lurasidone label, warnings and precautionsStroke in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis In placebo-controlled trials with risperidone, aripiprazole, and olanzapine in elderly subjects with dementia, there was a higher incidence of cerebrovascular adverse reactions (cerebrovascular accidents and transient ischemic attacks), including fatalities, compared to placebo-treated subjects.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to olanzapine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions